Update: Dubai residents can get only one movement permit every three days

According to a new directive, residents in Dubai will now be able to apply and get a movement permit to exit their homes to buy groceries or visit pharmacies only once in three days.

Also, those applying for the permit in order to withdraw cash from an ATM can obtain the permit once in five days.

Members of the general public residing in the emirate, excluding employees of vital sectors, must apply online for movement permits before leaving their homes during the sterilisation programme should they wish to fulfill essential functions like buying groceries or tending to medical needs, officials have clarified.

The permit also extends to pedestrians and cyclists.

The permit can be applied for via the government’s official website dxbpermit.gov.ae.

More details on the permit can be obtained by calling the hotline number 800737648.

Supreme Committee of Crisis & Disaster Management in Dubai: The movement permit website is for general members of the public who are allowed to go out for essential needs such as buying food and medicine, medical emergencies and for COVID-19 testing. pic.twitter.com/FepsvrjR3w

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 5, 2020

Employees of vital sectors meanwhile do not need to apply for the movement permit online, but instead will need to obtain a letter from their employer stating that they have been authorised by the company to commute to and from work. That document would need to be presented if the employees are stopped by authorities while commuting to work, and will even be used to waive violations by traffic radars.

An earlier statement by the Dubai Media Office said that all Dubai residents – including the general public as well as employees in vital and support sectors who are exempt from movement restrictions during the ongoing sterilisation programme – would need to apply for the movement permit. However, this clarification now excludes vital sector employees from needing the permits.

The Supreme Committee of Crisis & Disaster Management in Dubai said that it had decided to extend the national sterilisation programme to 24 hours a day in the emirate, effective April 4 onwards, for a period of two weeks, in a decision that is subject to renewal, as part of its precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

On April 5, the Dubai Police took to Twitter to inform residents that radars will be activated throughout the day across the emirate to monitor the movement of cars inside the city.

Radars used to Identify motorists violating traffic restrictions throughout Dubai during 24-hour National Sterilisation programme. Employees working in supporting sectors permitted to leave homes,will request to present proof,when stopped by a police patrol or detected by a radar

— Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ) April 5, 2020

The Dubai Police clarified later in the day that all radar fines imposed against traffic violators in Dubai on April 4-5 would be waived. Going forward though, it added that anyone who wishes to go out must obtain a movement permit to avoid fines and legal action.

Dubai Police:Radar fines imposed against violators of traffic restrictions in Dubai from (April 4) until today (April 5), will be waived.Going forward, anyone who wishes to go out must obtain a movement permit to avoid fines & legal action.
To apply: https://t.co/gU7BzMoB6W pic.twitter.com/m4YmpqrpbA

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 5, 2020

Read: Dubai extends sterilisation drive to 24 hours for two weeks

The full list of exempted individuals and the conditions under which residents are eligible to exit their homes during the sterilisation programme are as follows:

Exemptions for general public
People exiting their residences should wear a mask, gloves and ensure they maintain a safe distance from others.

Members of the public are allowed to go out for:
– Essential needs such as buying food from food supply outlets (Union Cooperative stores, supermarkets and groceries); only one family member is permitted to leave the house for this purpose

– Buying medicines/getting medical assistance from healthcare service providers like hospitals, clinics and pharmacies

– Covid-19 tests

Exemptions for employees

Vital Sectors:
Employees working in the below listed sectors are exempt from restrictions and are permitted to leave their house at any time of the day to commute to work.

– Healthcare services (hospitals, clinics and pharmacies)

– Food supply outlets (Union Cooperative outlets, supermarkets, groceries)

– Delivery services (food and medicine)

– Restaurants (operations limited to home deliveries only)

– Manufacturers of medicines and providers of healthcare and medical supplies

– Industrial sector (only vital industries)

– Industrial supply chain for services and basic commodities

– Water and electricity sector, petrol and gas stations and district cooling services

– Telecommunications sector

– Media sector

– Airports, airlines, ports, shipping

– Customs duty and border crossings

– Public and private security services

– Municipality services and public and private service providers involved in garbage collection, sewage management and general cleaning and sanitation

– Private and government sector organisations involved in combating the coronavirus (Covid-19)

– Public transport (buses and taxis only; metro and tram services will be suspended)

– Construction sector, subject to obtaining a permit from Dubai Municipality and the Permanent Committee for Labour Affairs

Support sectors
Employees working in the below sectors are permitted to commute to work between 8am and 2pm.

– Banking and financial services (banks and exchange centres)

– Social welfare services

– Laundry services (for permitted outlets)

– Maintenance services